Detection of social anxiety using multiple simultaneous biosignals: a pilot study

Abstract

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition characterized by heightened anxiety and avoidance behaviors in social situations. Despite the availability of treatment options, remission rates for SAD remain low, highlighting the need for more effective interventions. To support the development of more effective therapies, a better understanding of the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying SAD is needed. This pilot study investigates whether anticipatory anxiety before a social interaction can be detected by multiple biosignals, with the aim of identifying potential biomarkers for SAD. Using a modified version of the Internet-based Stress Test for Social Anxiety Disorder, we measured physiological responses of 17 healthy volunteers, including heart rate, respiratory rate, electrodermal activity, head movements, and electroencephalography power across various frequencies. We found that anticipatory anxiety was associated with increased heart rate, respiratory rate, tonic EDA, and variance in head roll, alongside elevated theta, beta, and gamma power in EEG. Our results suggest that a combination of these biosignals may provide valuable insight into the psychophysiology of social anxiety, which could be useful for both mechanistic research and clinical applications. Future research should explore the role of these signals in clinical populations and during acute threat conditions to refine diagnostic and prognostic tools for SAD.

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